Rainfall and inflows - Murray-Darling Basin Authority



River Murray Weekly ReportFor the week ending Wednesday, 9 September 2020Trim Ref: D20/37452Rainfall and inflowsAlthough some September forecasts showed potential for worthwhile precipitation across Victoria and Southern NSW, conditions have actually remained fairly dry for a second week across much of the Murray-Darling Basin (Map 1). In New South Wales, Wagga Wagga received 7.4 mm while Bowning received 13 mm across the week. In Victoria, Mildura received 2.2 mm and Bendigo received a total of 1.8 mm across the week. The Bureau of Meteorology is currently forecasting modest rainfall over the southern and eastern areas of the Murray-Darling Basin in the coming 8 days.Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall totals for week ending 9 September 2020 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology) Stream flows in the upper Murray tributaries continued to mostly recede this week. Specific information about flows at key locations can be found at the MDBA’s River Murray data webpage. Up-to-date river data for sites in the upper Murray can also be found on BoM’s website and in the Murray River Basin Daily River Report at the WaterNSW website.System operationsUnregulated flow event Since heavy rainfall in late April soaked catchments and boosted tributary inflows from the Ovens, Kiewa and Goulburn Rivers, catchments have remained responsive to rainfall. Healthy tributary inflows have continued during May, June, July and August. Theses tributary inflows have resulted in the effective filling of Lake Victoria and an extended period of unregulated flows into South Australia since 27 June. Across the past two weeks, drier conditions have prevailed and without further rainfall, the current period of unregulated flow is expected to conclude by mid-September. As such, the re-filling of Lake Victoria has now re-commenced and access to unregulated flows has ceased along river reaches upstream of Barham.For more information on the expected duration and the specific river reaches where unregulated flow currently applies, please refer to your local water authority.River operationsMDBA active storage continues to riseHume Dam is now beginning to release water as both irrigation demands and environmental orders commenceLock 11 at Mildura closed to boat traffic for maintenance on 15, 16 and 17 of September 2020MDBA active storage continues to riseHume Dam is now beginning to release water as both irrigation demands and environmental orders commenceLock 11 at Mildura closed to boat traffic for maintenance on 15, 16 and 17 of September 2020River operations and the COVID-19 virusThe MDBA is continuing to work with government partners and stakeholders during this challenging time. In response to the impact of COVID-19, the MDBA has enacted business continuity arrangements to ensure the continued operation of our business functions. River operations have been identified as a priority in this time as running the river is essential to supporting irrigation supply to agricultural industries.We hope all our community members remain safe at this time. We encourage all river users to evaluate plans against government advice, physical distancing and travel, and to support actions to limit the spread of COVID-19.Water quality impactsAn amber alert for blue-green algae remains current in the River Murray system upstream of Euston Weir. It is important that water users regularly keep up to date with algal alerts, notices and health warnings. This information is available through Goulburn-Murray Water and WaterNSW.River operationsOver the past week, MDBA total active storage increased by 72?GL to 4,524?GL (56% capacity). The Menindee Lakes storage volume remains below 640 GL and so there is no water currently available to meet Murray system requirements. Therefore, the total active storage available to the Murray does not include water held in the Menindee Lakes. At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage increased by 15 GL this week to 2,140?GL (55% capacity). The release, measured at Colemans, continued to target the minimum flow of 200?ML/day. Photo 1: Mitta Mitta River near Katie Peters reserve (photo courtesy Michael Broughton)Photo 2: A sunny day along the Tumut river (photo courtesy Kate Sandles, MDBA)At Hume Reservoir the storage level increased by 50 GL to 1,927?GL (64% capacity). Hume releases have responded this week to increasing irrigation demands and environmental orders. Accordingly, across the week Hume release has increased from the minimum requirement of 600?ML/day to 5,000 ML/day. In the coming weeks, Hume releases will continue to be influenced by rainfall, irrigation demands and environmental orders. It is anticipated that if conditions remain dry then Hume releases will continue to rise. At Lake Mulwala, the pool level is 124.76 m AHD and within the normal operating range of between 124.6 and 124.9 m AHD. Across the week irrigation diversions have been increasing. Mulwala Canal increased its diversion from 500 ML/day to near 1,500?ML/day and is anticipated to further increase into next week. Yarrawonga Main Channel increased its diversion from 200 ML/day to near 700?ML/day and is anticipated to similarly increase into next week. The release from Yarrawonga Weir averaged 5,800 ML/day across the week and is currently at 6,000 ML/day. Earlier in the week, water for the environment began to be delivered from Hume Dam. From Saturday 12?September these releases will reach Yarrawonga weir, where environmental water holders are targeting an in-channel flow downstream of Yarrawonga Weir. This water for the environment seeks to support the Murray cod nesting season by supplementing in-channel river flows and targeting a more stable flow rate. In association with the above action, some regulators in Barmah-Millewa Forest are open. Accordingly, this water for the environment will also increase the level of connectivity between the Murray River and the Barmah-Millewa Forest creeks and low-level floodplain to support plants and animals in the forest and promote increased productivity in the river. All actions in association with water for the environment are being monitored and water usage debited from environmental water holder accounts. On the Edward River, flows are close to 900 ML/day while on the Gulpa River flows are near to 200 ML/day. These flows are expected to increase slightly over the coming weeks. At Stevens Weir, diversions to the Wakool Main Canal remained around 100?ML/day and the release downstream of the weir averaged 1,100?ML/day.On the Goulburn River, the flow measured at McCoys Bridge decreased from 7,000?to 2,700 ML/day across the week and is expected to continue to slowly recede without significant rainfall. Information regarding opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray Valleys is available at the Victorian water register website.Diversions to National Channel from the Torrumbarry Weir pool have similarly risen from 1,000?to 1,700 ML/day and are likely to further increase without significant local rainfall to dampen demand. A portion of this flow is being used to maintain baseflows in the Gunbower Creek with the aim of providing increased habitat for native fish and other aquatic animals over the spring period. Flow in Gunbower Creek returns to the River Murray via Koondrook Spillway, downstream of Torrumbarry Weir near Barham. Inflow from the Murrumbidgee River, measured at Balranald, remains above the end of system target in response to rainfall in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment in August. Whilst the flow upstream on the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga has averaged 10,000 ML/day during August, diversions during supplementary access have resulted in the flow at Balranald remaining below 2,500 ML/day. With drying conditions across the last few weeks, supplementary access for the Murrumbidgee River has finished in some reaches of the Murrumbidgee, while in other reaches remains open for a short time longer. Please see the WaterNSW website for more information. The Murrumbidgee IVT balance is open for trade from the Murray to the Murrumbidgee (100?GL) but remains closed for trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray.At Euston Weir, the weir pool level is at FSL. The downstream release averaged around 15,500?ML/day and is forecast to steadily recede over the coming week.At Mildura Weir, Lock 11 will be closed to boat traffic on 15, 16 and 17 of September 2020. This is to allow installation and load testing of the upgraded lock bridge. Please see the media release for more information.Menindee Lakes storage increased by 2?GL to 460?GL (27% capacity). Continuing inflow has arrested the slow decline in storage and is now maintaining the volume relatively steady. The downstream release, measured at Weir 32, averaged 240?ML/day. Following the rainfall and streamflow responses during recent months, water restrictions have been lifted in many locations across NSW. Links to drought services and assistance can be accessed via the MDBA drought webpage.At Wentworth Weir, the weir pool level is being managed to target around FSL. The downstream flow continued to rise this week and is currently at 14,100?ML/day.The Lock 9, Lock 8 and Lock 7 weir pools continue to vary near FSL, within their normal operating range.The storage level at Lake Victoria increased by 5?GL to 651?GL (96% capacity) this week. The storage level in Lake Victoria will continue to be managed over the coming weeks in accordance with the Lake Victoria Operating Strategy. The strategy aims to fill the storage as late as possible while also minimising the length of time the storage is held at a steady level. This is done with the aim of minimising erosion and inundation impacts on sensitive foreshore vegetation and cultural heritage material.The flow to South Australia reduced over the past week to around 11,200?ML/day as unregulated flows continued across the border. Flow to South Australia will remain above normal Entitlement (4,500 ML/day) into September as unregulated flows continue to arrive from upstream.The Lower Lakes 5-day average water level was 0.80?m?AHD. Continuing unregulated flow into the Lower Lakes has allowed around 48 GL to be released to the Coorong this week targeting outcomes in the Coorong and at the Murray Mouth. Increased barrage releases will continue to be made when conditions allow to push fresh water into the Coorong. For information on barrage releases and South Australia’s Entitlement flow, see the South Australian Department for Environment and Water Weekly River Murray Flow Report.For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141ANDREW REYNOLDSExecutive Director, River ManagementWater in Storage Week ending Wednesday 09 Sep 2020MDBA StoragesFull Supply LevelFull Supply VolumeCurrent Storage LevelCurrent StorageDead StorageActive StorageChange in Total Storage for the Week?(m AHD)(GL)(m AHD)(GL)%(GL)(GL)(GL)Dartmouth Reservoir486.00 3 856 455.082 14055%712 069+15Hume Reservoir192.00 3 005 185.931 92764%231 904+50Lake Victoria27.00 677 26.79 65196%100 551+5Menindee Lakes? 1 731*? 46027%(- -) # 0+2Total? 9 269 ?5 17856%- -4 524+72Total Active MDBA Storage????54% ^??????????Major State StoragesBurrinjuck Reservoir1 026? 84883% 3 845-2Blowering Reservoir1 631?1 27378% 241 249+24Eildon Reservoir3 334?1 92458% 1001 824+33* Menindee surcharge capacity – 2050 GL ** All Data is rounded to nearest GL ** # NSW has sole access to water when the storage falls below 480 GL. MDBA regains access to water when the storage next reaches 640 GL.^ % of total active MDBA storage Snowy Mountains Scheme Snowy diversions for week ending 08 Sep 2020 Storage Active Storage (GL)Weekly Change (GL)Diversion (GL)This WeekFrom 1 May 2020Lake Eucumbene - Total1 005+40Snowy-Murray+0 419Snowy-Murray Component 448+29Tooma-Tumut+9 111Target Storage1 240?Net Diversion-9 308???Murray 1 Release+5 534Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *New South WalesThis WeekFrom 1 July 2020VictoriaThis WeekFrom 1 July 2020Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net)5.8104Yarrawonga Main Channel (net)2.411Wakool Sys Allowance1.220Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net)0.10Western Murray Irrigation0.21Sunraysia Pumped Districts1.66Licensed Pumpsn/a30Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s)0.41Lower Darling0.00Licensed pumps - LMW5.119TOTAL7.2155TOTAL9.637* Figures are derived from actual and estimates where data is unavailable. Please note that not all data may have been available at the time of creating this report. ** All data above is rounded to nearest 100 ML for weekly data and nearest GL for cumulative dataFlow to South Australia (GL)* Flow to SA will be greater than normal Entitlement for this month due to unregulated flows.Entitlement this month 135.0 *?Flow this week 70.8(10 100 ML/day)Flow so far this month88.5Flow last month261.6Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)?CurrentAverage over the last weekAverage since 1 August 2020Swan Hill 140 140 120Euston---Red Cliffs 150 140 140Merbein 130 130 140Burtundy (Darling) 320 310 310Lock 9 140 150 130Lake Victoria 120 120 120Berri 140 150 140Waikerie 190 210 210Morgan 210 220 210Mannum 220 220 220Murray Bridge 210 230 240Milang (Lake Alex.) 780 770 900Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 310 420 450Meningie (Lake Alb.)1 7301 7201 710Goolwa Barrages1 2701 3001 650River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 09 Sep 2020?Minor Flood StageGaugeHeightFlowTrendAverage Flow this WeekAverage Flow last WeekRiver Murray(m)local (m)(m AHD)(ML/day)?(ML/day)(ML/day)Khancoban---3 580R2 0601 610Jingellic4.01.86208.385 970F6 4308 310Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River )4.21.59218.48 990R1 0301 160Heywoods5.52.05155.683 300R 990 600Doctors Point5.52.10150.575 080R2 5202 400Albury4.31.14148.58- - --Corowa4.60.72126.742 150R2 1402 970Yarrawonga Weir (d/s)6.41.09116.136 320F5 8006 470Tocumwal6.41.64105.486 090R5 1407 140Torrumbarry Weir (d/s)7.32.2380.776 350F9 88013 830Swan Hill4.51.8664.7810 470F13 54010 550Wakool Junction8.84.1953.3113 900F14 36010 240Euston Weir (d/s)9.12.6044.4415 730S14 47010 610Mildura Weir (d/s)?--14 310F12 3109 620Wentworth Weir (d/s)7.33.3328.0913 960R11 6308 740Rufus Junction-4.0620.9910 310S9 3108 870Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s)-0.94-9 360R8 4008 090????????Tributaries???????Kiewa at Bandiana2.81.75154.981 560F1 5801 940Ovens at Wangaratta11.98.89146.573 100F4 0806 000Goulburn at McCoys Bridge9.02.4593.872 770F4 42010 310Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s)5.51.1280.89 830F1 110 930Edward at Liewah-1.6657.04 980R 790 840Wakool at Stoney Crossing-1.3854.87 400F 440 500Murrumbidgee at Balranald5.02.0558.011 660F1 8101 830Barwon at Mungindi6.13.29- 270F 430 670Darling at Bourke9.04.28-1 400R1 2201 350Darling at Burtundy Rocks-0.70- 150R 150 160????????Natural Inflow to Hume???11 88014 260 (i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)Weirs and Locks Pool levels above or below Full Supply Level (FSL)MurrayFSL (m AHD)u/sd/s?FSL (m AHD)u/sd/sYarrawonga124.90-0.13-No. 7 Rufus River22.10+0.04+1.75No. 26 Torrumbarry86.05-0.00-No. 6 Murtho19.25+0.14+0.46No. 15 Euston47.60-0.01-No. 5 Renmark16.30+0.17+0.58No. 11 Mildura34.40+0.04+0.56No. 4 Bookpurnong13.20+0.29+1.05No. 10 Wentworth30.80+0.02+0.69No. 3 Overland Corner9.80+0.02+0.56No. 9 Kulnine27.40+0.00+0.25No. 2 Waikerie6.10+0.16+0.52No. 8 Wangumma24.60+0.02+0.44No. 1 Blanchetown3.20+0.15+0.19Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHDLake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD)0.80Barrages Fishways at Barrages?OpeningsLevel (m AHD)No. OpenRock RampVertical Slot 1Vertical Slot 2Dual Vertical SlotsGoolwa128 openings0.863-OpenOpen-Mundoo26 openings0.70All closed---OpenHunters Creek----Open--Boundary Creek6 openings-1-Open--Ewe Island111 gates-All closed---OpenTauwitchere322 gates0.828OpenClosedOpen-AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea levelWeek ending Wednesday 09 Sep 2020State Allocations (as at 09 Sep 2020)NSW - Murray ValleyVictorian - Murray ValleyHigh security97%General security12%High reliability32%Low reliability0%NSW – Murrumbidgee ValleyVictorian - Goulburn ValleyHigh security95%General security44%High reliability47%Low reliability0%NSW - Lower DarlingSouth Australia – Murray ValleyHigh security100%General security30%High security100%NSW : : : ................
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